Blank for composition lens rims for ophthalmic mountings



Sept. l14 1926. 1,599,844

E. L.SCHUMACHER BLANK FOR COMPOSITION LENS RIMS FOR O .PHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Original Filed Jan.` v29, 1925 F7 N. 8 y y l lmerb. chumc'mhetz` Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER L. SCHUMACHER, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- GAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTH-BRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY AS- SOCIATION O'F MASSACHUSETTS.

BLANK FOR COMQOSITION LENS RIMS FOR OPHTHALMIC MOUNTIN GS.-

Original application filed January 29, 1925, Serial No. 5,644. Divided and this application filed .Tune k4, 1925. Serial No. 34,818.

4This invention relates to demi=amber rims for ophthalmic lenses, and has as an object to provide an economical, efficient, and generally improved process forthe production 5 of the same. This is a ldivision of my copending application filed January 29, 1925, bearing Serial Number 5,644.

An important object of this invention is to provide a process for the production of rims of the character mentioned, which shall practically eliminate thejwaste of material usually incident to the production of these rims.

` Another important object of this invention.

is the provision of a process for the production of demi-amber rims, which will permit of the use of the raw materialin that form in which it is most easily obtained. .Y

Still another important object of this invention is theprovision' of a process for thel production ofv demi-amber rims, Vwhereby a plurality of these rims may be produced at a time, thus increasing productionand decreasing the labor `charge on each individual rim. 1 A Y V These and many other objects and advantages of this invention, together with the details of my process, will readily become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which I have employed like numerals to Adesi,fg,nate y.corresponding parts throughout all viewsv of the same, and in which :y t

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sheet of. the raw material used in my process, a seetion of the same being mottled, to more' clearly illustrate its particular nature; I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a split tubeformed from the sheet illustrated in Figure l,

Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view talren on line 3--3 of Figure v2,

Figure l is a side elevation partly broken away, of a group Aof lsemili-nished rims formed on a tube of the'V material,

vligure 5 is a side elevation of a completed I rim, t

Figure 6 is a front elevation of an ophthalmic frame to which a pair of these rims have been applied, and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 7 7 of Fi re 6.v

l This invention relates particularlylto split demi-.amber rims, and has as an object to provide a process which shall overcome to a great extent the difficulties usually incident to the production of rims of this character. The term demi-amber is used to refer to mottledZyl, the use ofwhich in ophthalmic frames is particularly desirable, owing to its similarity to the popular but expensive tortoise-shell.

The manufacture `of demi-amber rims, however, presents a number of difliculties, owing to the'fact that due to its mottled appearance, this material can not bemade into a plastic state and then extruded into the shape in which it might most easily be used. For this reason, it is possible, so far as I. am aware, to obtain this demi-amber in only two different forms, namely, sheet stock or` strip stock.-

Prior toY my invention, therefore, all processes for the production of demramber rims 7 5 have resorted to the 'use of either sheet or strip stock. They have presented various dii-iicul-ties, which have not only increased the oost of the finished produc-t, but alsov dis# courage to a great extent the use of this material. Perhaps the most used process at the present time is that process which employs the sheet stock, and which provides for the production of rims from this stock by stamping.

Although this process of stamping demiamber rims from sheets of the material is comparatively simple, and requires but. a small amount of equipment, it is obvious `that the same is rather' expensive,- in that 90 there is not only th'e waste of the remainder of the sheets mutilated by cutting therefrom aplurality of rims, but also in that the process is substantially an individual one, and? permits of the production of but a single rim at a time. 1

l The other process occasionally used employs the strip stock, and forms the same into rims by spirally winding it about a heated mandrel, and subsequently longitudinally cutting the spiral thus formed. In this process, it is not only dimcult to handle lthe strip stock, but also the stock itself, be-

cause of the fact that it must originally be formed from the sheet material, is expensive and comparatively hard to obtain.

My invention contemplates therefore the provision of a process which shall employ the raw material in that form in which it may most easily be obtained, which shall permit of the production of a plurality of rims at a time, and which finally will be economical, efficient, and capable of inexpensive installation into any plant now engaged in work of this character.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my process, the numeral designates a sheet of the raw material in that form in which it is most easily obtained. lI`he sheet is substantially thin in cross section, being of a thickness such that it is possible to stamp from the same, demi-amber frames, and have the frames thus stamped approximately the ultimate thickness desired. This sheet is further mottled in appearance, as clearly shown by the portion l1 in the drawing.

In the practical application of my process, I proceed to shape such a sheet of this mata rial, by rolling or any suitable means, into a split tube 12, such as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. lVhile the tube 12 may best be formed by rolling the sheet about a heated mandrel, it is to be understood that the same may be formed in any one of a number of diii'erent ways, provided the resultant tube is substantially the size and shape of an ophthalmic rim, as clearly illustrated by the sectional view oi' the tube, shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. j

I-Iaving obtained this tube 12, I proceed to form the same into a group of semi-finished rims by subjecting the same, while rotated on a suitable lathe, to the cutting action of a gang cutter. This operation transversely grooves the tube 12, as at the points 13, to form a plurality of semi-linished rims 14, joined to each other by the very thin portions of the tube 12, formed at the base of the grooves 13.

It may be clearly seen that while all of the steps up to this point, would have been necessary in the production of a single rim, I have formed at this stage in my process a plurality of semi-finished rims, thus saving a considerable amount of work, time and expense. To finish' these rims, I proceed to individually sever them Jfrom the tube 12, by cutting thru the wall of the reduced portions 15. The severed rims are then internally grooved to form an eyewire receiving groove 17, and then subsequently polished by any suitable means.

In practical application, I find the greatest use for rims of this character as a covering for that type of frame known to the trade as IVindsor frames. rIhese 'trames comprise the metallic eyewires 18, joined by means of a metallic bridge 19, and being further provided with the metallic or Zyl temples 20. Used in conjunction with this type of frame, the demi-amber rims form coverings for the metallic members of the frame, and may be clamped thereabout by pressing `the edges over the edges of the metal rim or by means of suitable bolts or rivets 21. The adaptation of these rims as a covering for the metallic fra-me, may be clearly seen and appreciated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing.

Although I have described my rim as applied to this particular type of frame, I do so merely because it is on this type of frame that rims of this character find particular applicability. I reserve the right,

however, to apply the rims constructed in accordance with my invention to any purpose to which rims of this character are applied, such as solid demi-amber rims without metal lining-it being understood that the invention resides more particularly in the process of producing the rims and in a rim' produced from a specific form of raw material, than it does in the particular nature of the completed rim.

From the foregoing description therefore, it will be seen that I have provided a new and improved process, whereby demi-amber rims may be produced with a negligible amount of waste of the raw material.

In addition to this, it will also be seen that I have produced a process by which a plurality of these rims may be produced in a length of time practically equal to the length of time ordinarily required to produce a single rim.`

Although I have shown and described but one Jform of my process, which I prefer to consider as the logical embodiment of the frame, it is to be understood that in the p rac- A tical application of this process, various changes both in order and in general form are expected to suggestthe-mselves, so that I reserve the right to depart from the specific details disclosed herein, in so far as I remain within the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claim. It is also expected that various advantages and objects of this invention will become apparent as its use grows, so that I prefer that it be understood that the few advantages and objects stated in this description do not in any way cover the complete aim and purpose of this invention. Still further, it is to be understood that While this process is particularly applicable for use in manufacturing rims from demi-amber', it is entirely Within the spirit and the scope of this in- Vention to apply the process to composition material of any type or character.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is;

A blank for a plurality of lens rims for an ophthalmic mounting comprising` a tube l0 of composition material having a longitudi* nal severance on one side and a plurality of parallel ribbed portions extending around the tube in a plane normal to the axis thereof and shaped to the outer contour of the finished lens rim and separated by grooves extending' into but not through the material of the tube, substantially as and for the purpose described.

ELMER L. SCHUMACHER, 

